5 Vegetables, Herbs & Spices Used in Thai Dishes
April 20, 2016

Wailuku Ahupua`a, Kahului

The combination of vegetables, herbs, and spices used in Thai dishes creates some of the most delicious and unique flavors imaginable. Thailand Cuisine, a Thai Restaurant with locations in Kihei and Kahului, uses their years of culinary experience to continuously enhance these ingredient mixtures to produce the best Thai cuisine in Hawaii.

The following are a few essential vegetables, herbs, and spices commonly used in the Thai dishes at Thailand Cuisine:

Chilis: There are more than 10 types of chilies used in Thai cuisine. Although they vary in color and size, they are all used to add a bit of spice. However, certain Thai dishes can only be prepared using specific chilis, as the wrong type would ruin the taste.

Garlic: Entire cloves, minced garlic, smashed garlic, and fried garlic can be found in practically all Thai dishes, including curry paste. The only ingredient used more often than garlic in Thai food are chilis.

Basil: Similar to the sweet basil found in Italian pasta, Thai food incorporates horapha, haphra, and maenglak basil as either vegetables or flavoring in fish, beef, and chicken dishes.

Coriander: Thai cuisine is the only type of food that has made use of the coriander root. It is used in making curry pastes, and combined with the leaves, it is an essential part of making Tom Yum, a Thai soup usually prepared with shrimp. The coriander stem and roots are also commonly used as seasonings.

Ginger: Galangal, a larger member of the ginger family, is usually added in pieces to fish or chicken stock to add flavor. It is also used in making curry paste. Common, or young ginger, is widely used in Asian cuisine, especially Thai food. When combined with a few other ingredients, it makes a good marinade for beef or chicken.

Stop by either of Thailand Cuisine's locations anytime you are in the mood for the delicious taste you can only receive from Thai food. Find them in Kahului at 70 E. Ka'ahumanu Avenue and in Kihei at 1819 South Kihei Road, Suite D105. If you have questions about their Thai dishes, give them a call at (808) 873-0225 or (808) 875-0839, or visit them online.